Public Works Stormwater Summit (Day Two): Building Resilient Systems

Building Resilient SystemsResiliency is the key concept for current and future infrastructure planning. Discover how public works agencies are meeting the challenge for building resilient systems to withstand flooding and extreme weather events. Collaborative Urban Infrastructure Renewal while Meeting Multi-faceted Stormwater ObjectivesThe City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has identified the 28th Street area for a multitude of stormwater improvements. The City's master plan identified deficiencies in meeting service level goals, including structural flooding, roadway overtopping, and road closures. Two railroad overpasses also contribute to flooding issues. A concerted effort to address the structural and operational needs for all public infrastructure in the area includes a $6 million stormwater/water/wastewater park project. Coastal Adaptation Planning – St. Augustine Pilot StudyThe City of St. Augustine is a pilot study area for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's (DEO) five-year "Community Resiliency: Planning for Sea Rise" project. The study team is comprised of Dewberry, the Columbia Law School's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, and St. Thomas University. As a city rich with historic cultural resources and low-lying critical infrastructure, sea rise is of primary concern. Examine the city's progress throughout the project and their efforts in conducting a vulnerability assessment and creating a strategic adaptation plan. Lessons Learned from the 2014 North Vancouver Debris FloodAn intense rain event in 2014 caused debris floods that originated in the mountain slopes above North Vancouver, British Columbia. This presentation will discuss the lessons learned for future emergency response and for adjusting community planning and engineering practices to include the consideration of climate change impacts on creeks and streams in a mountainous setting. Using Super-Sized Green Infrastructure to Mitigate Urban FloodingThe Chicago area is former swampland with predominantly poor draining clay soils and little topographical relief. To combat historic flooding in the region, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is evaluating the use of green infrastructure to mitigate flooding from wet weather events. A stormwater master plan is being developed to feature super-sized green infrastructure to mitigate drainage issues and build resiliency into the system. Learning Objectives: Examine various tactics used to mitigate extreme weather events. Evaluate strategies to build resiliency into water and wastewater treatment facilities and other public infrastructure. Take advantage of the lessons learned by other communities in responding to extreme weather events and in conducting vulnerability assessments and developing strategic adaptation plans.